Part 21 (1/2)
”I tell you what,” Chess said, quite as eagerly as Helen, ”I was coming over to take you all for a sail on the river to-night. Let's get Tom and just us four keep watch on that island. I believe there is something going on there that ought to be looked into.”
”I--I don't know that it is our business to look into it,” suggested Ruth, doubtfully.
But for once Helen agreed with Chess, and against Ruth's better judgment it was determined to come back to this locality after dinner and lurk about the mysterious island in the Copley launch.
CHAPTER XVIII
BILBY'S TRUMP CARD
Naturally, Ruth went in search of Mr. Hammond the moment she landed on the island where the moving picture company was established. But, as she saw that the _Gem_ was not at the dock, she scarcely expected to find the president of the company at hand--and in that expectation she was not mistaken.
Mr. Hooley, the director, however, told her what he knew about the occurrence that had started Totantora so madly from the island in the canoe. Bilby and whoever it was that backed him in his enterprise were evidently determined to obtain the services of Wonota, the Osage princess, if it could be brought about.
”Looks to me,” said the director, ”as though we were going to have some trouble finis.h.i.+ng this picture, Miss Fielding.”
”We can't finish it without Wonota!” cried the girl.
”You don't think you could rewrite the remaining scenes so that we can keep on to the conclusion?” he asked thoughtfully.
”Why, Mr. Hooley! How about the throne-room scene? Wonota must appear in that. You say yourself that we cannot use anybody in her place.”
”How about cutting out that scene? Finish the play on this side of the water. Don't go to France at all.”
”Then the picture is spoiled!”
”No picture is spoiled until it goes out of our hands, you know,” and Mr.
Hooley smiled satirically. ”You know how it is in the picture business, Miss Fielding. Some unfortunate producer buys a script or a story. The scenario writer 'saves' the story by his work on the script. Then the continuity man 'saves' it a second time. Then the director 'saves' it after he gets it into his hands. We know that the star performer always 'saves' it again. And then the film cutter and the t.i.tle writer each 'save' it.
”Most pictures are 'saved' in this way by the omniscience of all who work on it so that, when it is finally produced, the writer seldom recognizes more than a glimmer of his original idea in the final product.
”You are much better treated than most picture writers, you know very well. And here you have a chance to 'save' your own work,” and Mr. Hooley finished with a laugh.
”It is no laughing matter,” she told him. ”I wanted this to be a really big picture. And I do not want to cut out Wonota. Without that throne-room scene it will fall flat.”
”We should have taken it in New York,” grumbled Mr. Hooley. ”I felt it at the time. But Mr. Hammond contracted for so many weeks' use of this island and the time is running out already.”
”And Wonota and Totantora are gone!”
”Exactly.”
”Do you know where they have gone?”
”Haven't the least idea. But Mr. Hammond knows.”
”He went to town?” asked Ruth thoughtfully.
”He has gone to confer with the lawyers and see if they can get the court to vacate the injunction issued against our use of Wonota. Bilby and the sheriff came again. They had a warrant this time. It called for the production of Wonota. Luckily you had her off the island at the time.
They searched every nook and cranny, and meanwhile Totantora got away.